The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-09-30
i'm b rief, l passed an excellent even.


effect of the storm, of the suffocating
heat, or of the wine I>had drank, felt
a strange melancholy. / could not
breathe comfortably. / was about to
set out for home, however, for it was
late and my houseswas at some dis
tance; but they insisted that l should
stay. 1t would be foolish to expose
myself to such tempest, when l was
not feeling well; the mother begged
me with such good grace that l felt
forced to remain and pass the night in
hospitable house. They tremendously
conducted me to my room, and there
wished me good night. | remember
even that Lizzie having fallen asleepin
her fathers arms, l kissed her little
cheek, paled by sleep, and her dimpled
little arms.
Left alone, / began to undress slow
ly and wandered about the room, as
one always does when one sleeps in a
strange place. l felt as if l should
smother in the close atmosphere of the
room. Before getting in bed / wanted
to inhale little of the outside air, and
in spite of the roaring storm tried to
open the window. II was a false win
dow.
swell, WE'LL" / exclaimed, a little
surprised.
l thought would remove the chin
ney screen; it was false chimney.
rushed to the door---it was locked!
Fear seized me, and, holding my
breath, l listened. The house was
quiet, all seemed to be asleep. Then /
inspected the room carefully, straining
my ears for the least Sound. On the
floor, near the bed, I noticed spots; it
was blood-dried and blackened blood!
/ shuddered and cold sweat stood out
on my forehead. Blood! Why should
there be blood there? And / saw that
whole sea of blood must have been
split therefor great space around
thc hard wooden floor had been freshly
scrubbed and scraped. All at once I
cried out Under the bed | had seen
man, stretched out, motionless as an
overturned statue. l could not cry OF
call out With trembling hands l
touched the man. He did not move
With trembling hands l pushed the
man. He did not move. With trem-
bling hands l seized the man by the
feet and drew him forth-he was dead!
His neck had been cleanly cut, as with
one stroke of a razor, and the head
held to the trunk only by slender
ligament.
thought | should 60 mad. But
something must be done-the assassin
might come at any moment. l raised
the body to place it on the bed.
make false step and the llvid head
turned over, swung to and fro for a
moment like hideous pendulum, and
then, detached from the trunk, fell on
the floor with a dull sound. With
great difficulty introduced the de
capitated trunk between the sheets,
picked up the head and placed it or
the pillow like that of a sleeping man
and, having blown out the candle,
slipped under the bed. l did all this
mechanically, without thought of de.
fence or safety; it was instinct that
prompted me, not intelligence or re
Election.
My teeth chartered. My hand
were wet with a thick moisture.
felt as if I had gone to bed in a char.
mel house.
remained there in that awful fea
minutes, hours, months, years, centur
ies-I do not know how long. / los
all idea of time and place. All wa
silent. From without the noise of tn
storm and the whistling of the winC
came to me, softened and sad, lik
means. | could not picture to mysel
the assassin who was coming-wh
was there perhaps. In that state o
horror l could see only little Lizzie
fair, rosy and frank, with her doll an,
her great hat; could see her sleeping
in her fathers arms; now and then sh
lightly raised her eyelids and dlsclose
her eyes, which seemed to me to b
bold, implacable, cruel, murderous.
The door opened, but as softly a
, the scratching of mouse. bit m
| lips till the blood came to keep fror
crying out. Now man stepped i
[ with gliding tread, with infinite pre-
. cautions to avoid touching the turn
ture. 1t seemed to me as if l coul
l see the cruel, clutching fingers glidin
. over my clothes, searching my pockets
Then the steps came nearer, seemed
Craze me. | felt that the man ws
, bending over the bed, that he struc
, one fierce blow. Then knew nothin
= more.
When l recovered consciousness I'll
I room had become silent again. Bl
; fright held me nailed to the spot. A
i length | decided to escape, with whs
caution you may imagine. On tipto
I gained the door, which had not bee
r closed. Not a sound, not a breatl
Feeling my way, | passed into the hal
I | waited to see head thrust suddenl
; from out the shadows, knife glea
:, in the dark. But no-the brute, glu
: ted with crime, slept without remors
q / descended the stairs, drew the bolt
4 the door, and, half fainting, with tt
l. blood frozen in my veins, l fell I'M
the gutter of the deserted street.
: DR.. Bertram had listened TO my r
cital with the deepest interest
Sand there found you, Mr.. Flu
l. Miss, and in what state! Could yo
+ recognize the housea"
EYES, / replied: "but to what end
= "Well, let me cure You, and then "
9 shall go together to the house of the'
assassins."
!, Eight days later the doctor and
y in Lower Abbey street. l recognize
the terrible house, All the blinds we
! drawn; in front of the door placal
: was placed, bearing the legend: 81
), Let"
inquired of the former residen
\ from neighbor.
= "They have been gone month an
more," she replied. 'Its great PIT
! for they We're very nice people,
Translated for The ArgonaM fro
\ the French of Octave Mirbeau.
n Gentleman TO Uncle Rastus):